Clasp for necklaces, bracelets or similar items of jewelry



June 2, 1964 M. BROSSE 3,135,031

CLASP FOR NECKLACES, BRACELETS OR SIMILAR ITEMS OF JEWELRY Filed June 8, 1962 United States Patent 3,135,031 CLASP FUR NECKLACES, BRACELETS 0R SIlt IILAR ITEMS OF JEWELRY Maurice Brosse, Arenales 855, Buenos Aires, Argentina Filed June 8, 1962, Ser. No. 201,096 8 Claims. (Cl. 2473) The invention concerns a clasp for necklaces, bracelets or similar items of jewelry comprising one or more strings of pearls, precious stones or similar decorative elements.

Hitherto, clasps for necklaces have been manufactured and arranged for accommodating a predetermined invariable number of strings of pearls, e.g. one string, two strings, or any other number of strings. In other words, it has been necessary to provide for each necklace a clasp adapted to receive the number of strings constituting said necklace. Furthermore, once a given necklace had been attached to a clasp, it was no longer possible to modify the number of strings associated therewith without completely dismounting the necklace and reconstituting it in its new form.

Furthermore, when assembling a necklace it was necessary to select from a bulk of pearls (i.e. a plurality of rows of pearls wherein each row is threaded on an individual thread) a complete row, then take all the pearls of said row off their thread, and re-thread them on the final thread which was to be used for manufacturing the necklace and the ends of which were attached to the two members constituting the clasp. This re-threading operation naturally required a comparatively long time.

It is an object of the invention to provide a clasp for necklaces which obviates the above-cited drawbacks.

Therefore, the clasp according to the invention is constituted by two members adapted to engage each other in a detachable manner and receive each, also in a detachable manner, one or more loops formed each at one of the ends of a string of pearls, precious stones, or similar decorative elements, having such a loop at each of its ends.

Due to this particular structure it becomes possible to dividual threada complete row, then take all the pearls attach to the clasp any desired number of strings of pearls, so that the same clasp may be used for the manufacture of necklaces having any desired number of strings. Furthermore, the user thus has the possibility of using the same clasp for wearing necklaces wherein the number of strings can be modified as desired. Furthermore, contraryto the requirements of conventional type strings the novel clasp does not have to be manufactured by skilled personnel, it may easily be obtained, for instance, by a centrifugal casting method using any convenient material.

Furthermore, in accordance with another feature of the invention each bulk is constituted by an assembly of threads on each of which pearls are threaded and each of which is terminated, at each of its ends, by a loop into one of which has been introduced a common attaching member. Due to this particular feature it becomes possible, when using a clasp of the type described, to assemble necklaces by using a string of pearls in its initial form taken directly from the bulk, so that there is no need at all for withdrawing the pearls from the thread on which they had been threaded in the bulk, nor to re-thread them on a final thread for mounting the necklace. In-

deed, the loop which terminates the string as taken from i Patented June 2, 1964 ice the Original bulk described above is directly connected to the corresponding member of the clasp.

In one embodiment, each of the two members which constitute the clasp presents at one of its ends a small bar adapted to engage the end loops of the strings of pearls, each of said bars each having one of its end portions bent and shaped so as to facilitate the engagement of the loops therewith, while rendering difiicult their disengagement.

In a particular embodiment of the invention the abovementioned end portions of the bars serve to lock the loops positively when the clasp is closed. This constitutes a safety feature since the strings of pearls can no longer disengage themselves from the clasp when the necklace is being worn with the clasp closed. However, by opening the clasp when the necklace is being taken off, it becomes possible to withdraw at will one or more strings of pearls.

In one embodiment, at least one of the two members constituting the clasp is provided with means, such as a needle or a pin, for fastening the clasp to a garment, so that said clasp devoid of the strings of pearls, or the like, may be used as a brooch or clip.

In another embodiment the two members constituting the clasp are provided with means for attaching the same to the users ear lobes in such a manner that said clasp devoid of strings of pearls, or the like, and with its two members taken apart may be used as a pair of earclips.

The invention also concerns, as a novel product of manufacture, a necklace constituted by at least one thread on which pearls have been threaded and having each of its ends formed into a loop which engages one of the two members of a clasp of the type described above.

The above and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken with the accompanying drawing which shows by way of example several embodiments of the invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of a necklace clasp according to the invention, showing the ends of strings of pearls attached to the two members of said clasp.

FIG. 2 shows the two part clasp per se snap.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2, the locking bar of the clasp being in the open position.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are frontal views of the two members in the disengaged condition.

FIG. 7 shows one of the members of the clasp so arranged as to constitute a clip or brooch.

FIG. 8 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the clasp constituting a clip or brooch, wherein the member shown in I and FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional View illustrating a clasp mounted to constitute an earclip.

The clasp generally indicated by numeral 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises catch and latch members 2 and 3 respectively which are shown separately in FIGS. 5, 6, respectively.

Catch member 2 comprises a tubular element 4 having a flat rectangular section, and latch member 3 comprises an element 5 having a corresponding rectangular section, so as to be able to engage within element 4 (cf. FIGS. 3 and 4).

Clasp member 2 further comprises a bar-like member, or bar, 7 extending parallel to the end edge of element 4 and spaced at a small distance therefrom, one end portion 8 of said bar being bent and attached to one of the lateral or side faces of element 4, while the other end portion 9 of the bar is bent into a hook and extends in a general direction parallel to the opposite lateral or side face of said element 4.

Due to this arrangement the user of the clasp can easily engage a loop such as 11 (cf. FIG. 1) terminating a string of pearls generally indicated at 12. It will be understood that it is also possible to engage more than one of such loops, if desired; thus, three loops corresponding to three strings of pearls may be engaged over the hook-shaped end portion of the bar, as shown by way of example in FIG. 1.

In this embodiment the end of the hook-shaped portion 9 is at a certain distance from the corresponding lateral face of element 4, whereby the loop formed at the end of a thread on which a row of pearls or the like have been previously threaded, can easily be engaged between the hook and said lateral face; however to prevent the loops from accidentally disengaging from the hook a retaining member constituted by a locking bar 15 is provided which has one of its ends pivoted on an axis 16 which forms a hinge mounted along the lateral face of element 4 opposite the hook 9. The other end of locking bar 15 is adapted to be maintained in the locking position between the ends of hook 9 and the corresponding face of element 4. It will be understood that in said locking position bar 7, bent portion 8 and hookforming portion 9 constitute a closed loop. For opening said closed loop locking bar 15 may be disengaged by pivoting said bar about its axis 16.

Similarly member 3 of the clasp also comprises a bar 18 one end portion 19 of which is bent backwardly and attached to the corresponding lateral side or face of element 5, while the other end portion of said bar is bent into a hook 21. When the clasp is in the closed position the end of hook 21 engages the corresponding lateral face of element 4.

The loop formed by bar 18, bent end portion 19 and hook 21 is closed, in the closed position of the clasp, as the end of said hook engages the corresponding lateral face of element 4 of the other member of the clasp. Furthermore, element 4 has a protruding portion 22 formed on said lateral face, whereby hook 21 is yieldingly locked and thus serves at the same time to maintain the two members of the clasp in their closed (i.e. mutually engaged) position, and to close the loop formed by bar 18, bent portion 19 and hook 21, whereby the loops 11 formed at the ends of the strings of pearls are prevented from escaping from said bar.

An additional safety means adapted to prevent positively the closed clasp from opening accidentally is constituted by another bar (cf. FIG. 3) shown at 23 which is also pivoted at one of its ends on axis 16 and which has a point 24 adapted to engage corresponding perforations provided in the two respective elements 4 and 5 of the two clasp members. The perforation of element 5 is shown at 25 in FIG. 6, and the perforation of element 4 is shown at 26 in FIG. 2. The bar 23 is maintained in the clasp locking position by the ends of hook 21 of snap member 3 by means of a nose 27 provided at the end of bar 23 and integral with the latter, said 4,. nose being engaged over said end of hook 21 of clasp member 3.

A necklace using a clasp such as described hereinabove is mounted in the following way:

One or more strings of pearls such as 12 are provided, each of which is terminated by a loop 11; preferably a bulk of pearls such as shown in FIG. 12 will be used, wherein rows of pearls 12 are threaded directly on respective threads 31 which are to be used for constituting the necklace, each thread being terminated by loops 11, and the whole bulk of pearls being held together by engaging one loop of each string with a convenient joining or attaching member, such as 32.

Looking bar 23 and bar 15 of clasp member 2 are then opened, and the desired number of loops 11 of strings 12 is engaged on hook 9 of bar 7; locking bar 15 is then brought into the locking position so that loops 11 are retained on bar 7. Thereafter the loops formed at the opposite ends of the strings of pearls are engaged on bar 18 of the other clasp member 3 by sliding said loops in a similar way over hook-forming portion 21; the clasp is then closed by engaging element 5 within element 4, whereby hook 21 is brought into elastic locking engagement with the protruding portion, or boss 22 so as to maintain the snap in the closed position; for additional safety the locking bar 23 is pivoted so that its nose 24 is engaged and positively locks elements 4 and 5 in their mutually engaged position as described hereinabove.

It will be understood that by an operation similar to the above-described assembling operation it is possible to vary at will the number of strings of pearls attached to the clasp. The same snap thus may be used for mounting a necklace comprising any desired number of strings of pearls, While it is not necessary to withdraw any pearls from their thread, to thread said pearls again onto another thread, and to form loops at the ends of such new thread.

With a view to maintaining the loops at regular mutual distances on the bars 7 and 18, respectively, at least the interior surface portions of said bars may be provided with notches, not shown, wherein the corresponding loops are engaged.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a modification of one member 3 of the clasp. In this form a pin or needle 35, such as the generally U-shaped, or double-needle shown, is hingedly mounted in a corresponding rolled-in end portion 36 formed on clasp member 3a. This needle or double pin could also be hingedly mounted into a convenient perforated boss or into a rolled plate element attached to the rear face of member 30 at the free end thereof.

Member 3:: with pin or needle 35 may be engaged with member 2 of the clasp so as to form a clip or brooch. This brooch may be arranged in any convenient manner; e.g. it may be provided with a precious stone 38, or the like, as shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 shows the member of FIG. 7 modified to constitute the pinching or clamping member of a clip. To this end the two rolled-in marginal portions 41, 42 of a tongue-shaped metal plate 43 (of. FIG. 10) are engaged onto the two branches of pin 35. The pin is mounted in its hinge with elastic means which tend to maintain the pin in engagement with element 5 of the snap member, whereby it is possible to attach the two mutually engaged clasp members 3a and 2 to a garment by pinching the garment between tongue 43 and the adjacent face of element 4.

In a modified embodiment (cf. FIG. 13) the clasp may constitute a pair of earclips. By providing each of the two clasp members (which preferably are of the same shape and appearance) with convenient attaching and pinching or clamping members similar to those described with reference to the preceding embodiment, it is indeed possible to form a pair of earclips from a unique clasp of the type described.

It will be understood that a clasp according to the invention may not only be used for mounting a necklace, but may also serve for mounting a bracelet, or any similar item of jewelry.

In the embodiment shown one of the clasp members nearly entirely disappears within the other member when the clasp is in the closed position, so that the decorative portion is provided exclusively (or nearly exclusively) on said other member; it Will be understood that a clasp could also be provided wherein the exterior appearance is quite different from that of the embodiments described hereinabove; for instance, such a clasp may comprise two members each of which is provided with the same decorative pattern or elements, which particularly applies to the case where the clasp is used in the form of a pair of earclips wherein each one of said clips is constituted by one of the clasp members.

It is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the particular embodiments herein described, and that changes and modifications may be made in various details and arrangements without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A clasp for fastening a variable number of strings of jewelry, each having a ring attached to each end thereof, comprising separable catch and latch members of substantially rectangular form, a first hook projecting from one longitudinal edge of said catch member and having a resiliently yielding free end portion bent so as to extend along a part of the other longitudinal edge of said catch member in substantially parallel spaced relation therewith to provide a first ring receiving passage, a second hook projecting from a corresponding longitudinal edge of said latch member and having a resiliently yielding free end portion bent so as to extend along a part of the other longitudinal edge of said latch member in substantially parallel spaced relation therewith to provide a second ring receiving passage, a lever mounted on said one longitudinal edge of said catch member for pivotal motion in a transverse plane, said lever having a bent portion adapted to engage with said first passage, and rib on said other longitudinal edge of the catch member projecting into said second passage to close the latter when the latch member is moved toward the catch member said rib being effective to prevent free separation of said members.

2. A clasp according to claim 1, in which the free end portion of each hook is inwardly curved so as to restrict said first and second passages at a point near the outer end of the corresponding hook.

3. A clasp according to claim 1, in which a second lever is mounted on said one longitudinal edge of the catch member for pivotal motion in a transverse plane, said second lever having a bent portion adapted to frictionally engage over said free end portion of the second hook so as to additionally prevent free separation of said members.

4. A clasp for fastening a variable number of strips or strings of jewelry having a ring attached to each end thereof, comprising two separable flat members of substantially rectangular shape, a first hook extending from one longitudinal edge of one member in substantially parallel spaced relation to the outer transverse edge thereof and having a resiliently yielding inwardly curved free end portion extending over and along a part of the other longitudinal edge of said one member, a second hook extending from one longitudinal edge of the other member in substantially parallel spaced relation to the outer transverse edge thereof and having a resiliently yielding inwardly curved free end portion extending over and along a part of the other longitudinal edge of said other member, a rib on said other longitudinal edge of said one member for contacting said free end portion of the second hook to prevent free separation of said members, each of said members having an opening therein at a location such that the openings register when the members are juxtaposed, two parallel levers mounted on said one longitudinal edge of said one member for pivotal motion in respective transvense planes and each having a bent portion, the bent portion of one lever being adapted to enter the space between the free end portion of said first hook and said other longitudinal edge of said one member, and the bent portion of the other lever being adapted to frictionally engage over the free end portion of said second hook, and a keeper projecting from one of said two levers to engage with said two openings whereby to lock said two members together.

5. A clasp as claimed in claim 1 and means carried by at least one of said catch and latch members for attaching same to a garment.

6. A clasp as claimed in claim 1 further including a U-shaped pin means pivotally connected to at least one of said catch and latch members, said pin being spring loaded so as to be urged toward the same, said pin having two free parallel branches and a tongue-shaped metal plate including two opposite parallel, spaced, tubular, marginal portions adapted for attaching to said pin means by engagement of said two branches within said tubular marginal portions of the plate.

7. In a jewelry clasp adapted for association with a variable number of strands of jewelry, each having a ring at the opposite ends thereof comprising two mutually engageable respective clasp and latch members, said clasp member comprising a tubular member having opposite longitudinal sides and an open end, said latch member comprising a body portion having transverse external dimensions smaller than the internal dimensions of the tubular member whereby said latch member can be moved into and out of said catch member, a first hook extending from one longitudinal side of the clasp member adjacent the side thereof remote from its open end and including a reversely bent portion extending in spaced relation to and transversely of said catch member and terminating in a resiliently yielding free end portion extending over and along the portion of the opposite longitudinal side of said clasp member and terminating in spaced relation in respect thereof so as to define a first ring-receiving passage, a second hook extending from one longitudinal side of the latch member, bent upon itself to extend in substantially parallel spaced relation to the outer transverse edge thereof and including a resiliently yielding, inwardly curved, free end portion extending over and along a portion of the opposite longitudinal side of said latch member to define a second ring-receiving passage, a rib on said opposite longitudinal side of said clasp member at least adjacent the open end thereof and adapted for engagement with the under surface of said inwardly curved free end portion of said second hook when the latch member is moved within the catch member so as to close said second passage, lever means carried by said catch member, and means mounting said lever means for swinging movement about an axis parallel to and adjacent the first-mentioned longitudinal side of said clasp member, said lever means terminating in an offset end and said lever means being swingable in a plane transverse to the catch member so that said offset end can fit in the space between the opposite longitudinal side of said clasp member and the under surface of the inwardly curved free end portion of said first hook so as to close said first-mentioned passage.

8. A clasp as claimed in claim 7 and each of said catch and latch members having an opening therein extending transversely of the catch member and through the latch member respectively at locations along their respective longitudinal axes such that when the latch member is disposed within the catch member said openings are in alignment, a second lever, means pivotally connecting said second lever to said first longitudinal side of said clasp member for movement in a plane transversely of said clasp References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS McDuli Jan. 16, 1912 Keller May 26, 1931 Bienenfeld Apr. 12, 1932 Rauer Dec. 16, 1941 Zerr Feb. 19, 1952 McFarland July 14, 1953 Bangs Sept. 1, 1953 

1. A CLASP FOR FASTENING A VARIABLE NUMBER OF STRINGS OF JEWELRY, EACH HAVING A RING ATTACHED TO EACH END THEREOF, COMPRISING SEPARABLE CATCH AND LATCH MEMBERS OF SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR FORM, A FIRST HOOK PROJECTING FROM ONE LONGITUDINAL EDGE OF SAID CATCH MEMBER AND HAVING A RESILIENTLY YIELDING FREE END PORTION BENT SO AS TO EXTEND ALONG A PART OF THE OTHER LONGITUDINAL EDGE OF SAID CATCH MEMBER IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SPACED RELATION THEREWITH TO PROVIDE A FIRST RING RECEIVING PASSAGE, A SECOND HOOK PROJECTING FROM A CORRESPONDING LONGITUDINAL EDGE OF SAID LATCH MEMBER AND HAVING A RESILIENTLY YIELDING FREE END PORTION BENT SO AS TO EXTEND ALONG A PART OF THE OTHER LONGITUDINAL EDGE OF SAID LATCH MEMBER IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SPACED RELATION THEREWITH TO PROVIDE A SECOND RING RECEIVING PASSAGE, A LEVER MOUNTED ON SAID ONE LONGITUDINAL EDGE OF SAID CATCH MEMBER FOR PIVOTAL MOTION IN A TRANSVERSE PLANE, SAID LEVER HAVING A BENT PORTION ADAPTED TO ENGAGE WITH SAID FIRST PASSAGE, AND RIB ON SAID OTHER LONGITUDINAL EDGE OF THE CATCH MEMBER PROJECTING INTO SAID SECOND PASSAGE TO CLOSE THE LATTER WHEN THE LATCH MEMBER IS MOVED TOWARD THE CATCH MEMBER SAID RIB BEING EFFECTIVE TO PREVENT FREE SEPARATION OF SAID MEMBERS. 